Future 'dollar' store raises questions for council

May 14, 2013

A Planned Development Project for a "dollar" store on an undeveloped corner in the north Cape brought questions from many on the Cape Coral City Council during its regular meeting at City Hall on Monday.

An ordinance was put forth to change the zoning from Professional Office (P-1) to Commercial (C-1) for a proposed Dollar General on the southwest corner of Kismet Parkway and Andalusia Boulevard.

During discussion, Councilmember Derrick Donnell expressed concern over the type of business than can be put there, even though any construction on that corner likely wouldn't happen for years, since there is currently not much there.

"We have an opportunity for something better. We're getting hammered with these dollar stores," Donnell said. "Is there any way we can deny this?"

Chris Chulakes-Leetz was also concerned with "what they are starting," adding that council had made the same mistake in the past regarding spot zoning.

The worry from residents, Councilmember Kevin McGrail said, would be the buffering from neighbors around the proposed building, and that the city must do all it can to see that goes through.

"The city must assure the landscaping standards. The problem has been following up," McGrail said. "We're good at assuring plants are in the ground, but not six months later to see if they grew. People do not want to look at a Dumpster."

The city has been changing its land use and zoning for "commercial nodes" in the northern areas of town, where there's little development, for the placement of businesses in advance of when the area starts to develop in the coming decades.

Another ordinance was heard to rezone property from P-1 to C-1 at Andalusia and Diplomat.

A public hearing date has been set for June 3.

In other business, council also approved measures to amend the infrastructure element of the comprehensive plan to reduce the sanitary sewer facilities level of service, to renew a site-lease agreement for a cell tower at the Southwest Reserve Osmosis plant, and to declare two city parcels as surplus property.